Steam finishing board



Nov. 10, 1953 RICHTERKESSING ET AL 2,553,370

STEAM FINISHING BOARD 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 26, 1948 I VEN'IURS I FF-onKHRichterKessfng and William M.CisseH ATTORNEY Nov. 10, 1953 F. H. RICHTERKESSING ET AL 7 STEAM FINISHING BOARD Filed Feb. 26, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JIE G 1 IT 'i-I i 59 winninmim".

q 'JNVEJVTUIZS Fi-anK HRichterKessing a d William M.Cisse ll Nov. 10, 1953 F. H. RICHTERKESSING ETAL 2,658,370

STEAM FINISHING BOARD v Filed Feb. 26, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS FranKHfRichierKassing nd William M.Ciss eH .ATTORNEY Nov. 10, 1953 F. H. RICHTERKESSING ET AL 2,658,370

STEAM FINISHING BOARD Filed Feb. 26, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 4 T R- mvmmas Fran/(HRichierKassing n William M.Cisse ll ATTORNEY Nov. 10, 1953 F. H. RICHTERKESSING ET AL 2,658,370

STEAM FINISHING BOARD Filed Feb. 26, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v ITIIIUII' IIU I 1 11 |e |a r1 7 JNVENZURS FrahKHRichi-er-Kessiny and William Mllissell 2,4 :e M

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1953 U NITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE I 2,658,370 I I STEAM FINISHING BOARD Frankn. Richtei'kessing, Louisville; aniwiii'iam M'. Cis'sell, StLMat'tlie'ws, K'yl, assignors to W. M. Cissell Mfg: Company, Incorporated, Louisville, Ky;,- a}-c'orporation' of Kentucky mamas February'26, 19 1s; seams. 11,221-

6 Claims. 1.

This invention" relates to" a steam finishing" board for pressing garments and other articles. I

It is desirable in such a finishing looard to provide means for pa'ssi'ngthe steam through the garments or'a'rticlesihei'ngpressed thereon and also toprovide means. for d rawing air into the interior of the board? through said garments in order to dry them; also to maintain theboard heated at all times during-its operation independently ofthe aforesaid'means; I I II I It is a rimary. ob'je'c'tive'of the invention to provide a steam'fiiiishing board. embodying the aforesaid features in anovel simplified-' manner.

In particular it'is'an object of the invention to provide sucha finishing'board of cast metal construction havinghatingl tubes embedded therein in a mannerto providea highly eiiicient heat conducting relationbetween the tubes and the board.

A further object is to providesuch a board including a periorated 'cover plate supported in a manner to'have a maximum amount of heat conducted thereto from the board.

A still further'obj'ect is to provide a novel arrangement wh'ereinth'e said cover plate cooperates with the board'to define a closed chamber having steam injecting'means associatedtherei with for the purpose of steaming garments supported 'onthe board I I I A still further objectis to provide a novel steam actuated suction means associated with the aforesaid chamber to draw air through the garments.

A still further "object" is to provide a suction control valve for use alternatively in conjunction with conventional suction means in placed the aforementioned steam actuated suction means;

the connections of the various steam-tubes to the board.

An additional objectlis toprovide suchaboard 1 with control pedals for the various steam valves I arranged so that the "several "control pedals and; their'associatedmchanisriis inayembody-a mun ber of similar standard parts in theirrespective constructions.

In this a pucaubnrweshow'and'd scfibe only the preferredienibodimentofth nventisn snii iy- I by way"offillustrationfbf the practice thereon-as -I by lawrequired. Howevrw'iecogni'ze that the board in plan;

. desighated'fi in itsentirety invention is capab e of other mbodiments and that the several details thereof maybe modified in various ways all without departing from the:

invention. Accordinglythe drawings and descriptio'ns herein are to be considered as merely illustrative and not as exclusive. I

hi the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 re resent. a P@ P. ?tive i of the preferred embodiment oi theinvention;

Figure 2a'n end elevation thereof; I

Figure" 3," a plan view, on an enlarged scale relative to Figure 1, of theiinishing-board casting orbody withrthe fabric cover and the'perforated rj af r qt di. n. v

Figure 4, a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3' liigure fi a section on the line 6 -6 of Figure 4 looking in the-direction of the arrows;

I e 7 a detail section on the line Figure ii looking in directionof the arrows;

Figure 8,. a- View partly'in section on line 8e8" oi'l figure i loolringin t e direction of thearrows and showing the pedestal or'base portion of the Figure 9,-a secti n v-iew on the lines-4 0i lookinigfin the direction of thearrows and showing the bottom of the finishing board:

in la inTconj unetio'n with theinvention; and, .v

pedestal or base which may-be of suitable, preferably-cast; iron, construction and hollow inorder I to house the operating mechanisms associated with thevarious controlrpedals 2, 3 and'frespectively mounted thereon. Projecting upwardly from this pedestal I is awstandard or columnj on which. is supported the steam: finishingboard',

lSiQureIlOIfI -detail endelevation of :the stand" or supportior a pleat setter which may be used" gre rm fjndw detail fto the accompanying drawings, the reference character I designates a:

rrraecaiaanbe with usual practicea tray T of I conventional construction may be supported beneath the finishing board 6 to catch any depending portions of garments being processed on the board 5 and prevent same from contacting the floor. Such a tray T may be supported by means of an angle bracket B fixed to the supporting column 5.

The finishing or pressing board comprises an elongated casting l of a suitable metal, such as aluminum, which is suitably secured to the upper end of the column 5 and supported at a convenient height in a substantially horizontal plane.

By reference to Figures 3, 4 and 7, it will be noted that the casting I is formed with a basin or indentation in its upper surface, said basin comprising a relatively deep central trough 8 extending along the longitudinal axis of the casting, and a relatively shallow marginal portion 9 surrounding the trough 8. A marginal wall or rim I bounds said basin.

A plurality of relatively spaced bosses II integral with the casting I project upwardly to a common level from the bottom of the marginal portion 9 of the basin, and a perforated steaming plate or cover plate I2, which may be of stainless steel or other preferably smooth metal construction conforming in shape to the configuration of said basin, is supported on these bosses II in intimate surface engagement with each.

The perforations I3 on the plate I2 are preferably uniformly distributed, as shown in Figure '7, and the plate is snugly seated within the marginal wall or rim II) of the basin to form a closed chamber which may be in communication with suitable steam and/ or suction lines to expel steam or draw air through the perforations in the plate I2.

In accordance with usual practice, the plate I2 and adjacent surface portion of the casting l are provided with a suitable porous fabric covering comprising a pad I4 and a cover I5 to provide a suitable working surface on which the garments or other articles may be supported.

In order to maintain the working surface of the board heated at all times during its operation, independently of the steam supplied to the basin or chamber therein, a suitable number of heating tubes I6 may be embedded in the lower face or bottom of the casting 1, preferably beneath the marginal portion 9 of the basin so that the heat from said tubes will be effectively transmitted by conduction through the casting and the bosses II to the plate I2, it being noted that each of the bosses I I in the preferred embodiment has a flat surface area or top in intimate engagement with the plate. The relatively equal distribution of these bosses II will contribute to an even distribution of the heat to all portions of the plate I2.

We have found that one highly eflicient manner of assembling the heating tubes I6 in the casting I is as illustrated in Figures 7 and 9 of the drawings. In this arrangement, the bottom or lower face of the casting is formed with a plurality of preferably equidistantly spaced grooves or recesses I'I, each of generally U shape, extending on opposite sides and around one end of the trough 9 beneath the marginal portion 9 of the basin or chamber and in concentric relation with each other.

The U-shaped steam tubes I6, which may be of copper or other suitable conductive metal, are disposed in these respective grooves I1, and retained in place by means of metal inserts I9 which may be formed by pouring a suitable mol- 4 ten metal, such as lead, into the grooves I1 around said tubes. The inserts I 8 are in intimate surface engagement with both the tubes I9 and the walls of the grooves I1 and thus provide emcient heat conducting paths between the tubes I6 and casting I.

If desired auxiliary retaining means consisting of metal bars I9 extending across the several grooves and secured to the lower surface of the casting I at suitable locations, may be employed to further secure the several inserts I8 and tubes I6 in their respective grooves.

The chamber or basin 9, 9 has a steam injection port and a suction port 2I (Figure 4) communicating therewith, preferably through a common passage 22 which is formed by projecting one end of the trough 9 longitudinally beyond the remainder of the basin and sealing the projecting end and top of same respectively, as by the flange portion 23 and an overlying shelf 24, both preferably formed as integral parts of the casting. The bottom of trough 8 slopes downwardly to the passage 22 as shown in Figure 4.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the steam injection port 20 is formed in a nozzle 25 which projects upwardly through an opening in the bottom of the trough extension or passage 22, as in Figure 6.

Preferably this nozzle 25 is formed as part of an integral manifold casting 26 which extends transversely beneath the shelf 24, and provides a simple eflicient junction or connection between the finishing board casting I and the various steam lines associated therewith.

Such a manifold casting or junction member 26 consists of a medial bridge section 21 disposed beneath the passage 22 and carrying the nozzle 25 which projects upwardly through said passage. into the interior thereof. said nozzle having its port 20 in communication with a steam supply line 28 threaded into the bottom of said bridge section; and hollow steam compartments 29 and 30 respectively disposed on opposite sides of the. passage or trough extension 22. ends of the respective steam tubes I5 are received; in these compartments, and a steam supply line. 3| is in communication with one of said compartments 30, while a steam return line 32 is disposed in communication with the other of said compartments 29. Thus it will be seen that steam will be caused to circulate through the tubes II from the supply or intake compartment 39 to the exhaust compartment 29.

' By virtue of the foregoing arrangement of the manifold casting 26 and steam pipes I6 on the finishing board, it will be readily apparent that said pipes and manifold may be completely operatively assembled with each as a unit, and this preassembled unit then operatively positioned on the finishing board and secured thereto by pouring molten metal in the grooves, as at I8, or otherwise. Thus the assembly of the complete finishing board is greatly simplified and expedited, with resulting economy of production.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that a steam chest 33 is mounted on the supporting column 5, preferably being supported on a bracket 34 integral with said column, and steam is supplied to this chest from any suitable source by means of the supply line 55, which may be equipped with a usual hand valve 35 to shut ofl the flow of steam when desired.

The steam supply line 3| is connected to the steam chest to convey steam therefrom to the heating tubes I6, and the exhaust or return line The opposite:

5 32' for the heating tubes isconnected through thebottom 01 the steam chest 33 to the main exhaust or return liiie= 31 The return line 31 maybe provided with a conventional condensa tion trap 38 and a: hand valve 39,- in accordance with usual practice The steam supply line' 23- to the injection noz zle 25 is connected to the steam chest 33 through a control valve 40 (Figure 1) which may be or any conventional construction and'which is nor mally biased to? closed position, as by means of a spring 4lexerting resilient closing pressure against the vane control lever 42.

The valve control-lever 42 is or bell-crank mm, pivoted at- 4211,- and hasan arm 42!) connected to one of the foot pedals 2; which may be depressed to open the valve and" produce a flow of steam into the interior of the finishing board through the nozzle 25;

To provide such a connection; we prefer to utilizea construction such as-shown in Figure 8, in which thepedal-2 is carried at one end of a relatively integral crank 43, which in turn is fix'edly secured to one end of a rock shaft 44 journalled' for rotary" movement in the interior" of the hollow base I". The other end of this rock shaft 44 projects from the base I substantially beneath the steam chest 33. A crank 45 is fixed to this projecting end of the rock shaft 44, and, as shown in Figurez, this crank 45 and the valve control lever 42 are operatively connected by a connecting rod 46 which is pivotally secured to the free ends of both of said members 42b and 45, as shown.

The suction orex-haust port 2 l' of the finishing board may be defined by one end of the bore or passage extendingthrough a; hollow elbow fitting 41- havingone end projecting through the bottom of the trough extension of passage 22. The other end of this fitting 41 has a Ventur i tube 48S coupled thereto, and a steam injection nozzle 49" mounted in thefitting has its discharge end directed into the Venturi tube" in operative relation thereto to draw air? through the outlet port 24 when steam is passed through said nozzle 49, all inaccordance with well known principles. The Venturitube discharges into a usual dischargepipe 50 of which" a portion only is shown.

The injection nozzle "is placed in communi-' cation with the: steam chest through a bore 5| in this fitting, a supply pipe 52 threadedinto said here; and a control valve 53 interposedbetween the supply pipe- 52 and the steam chest 33 to control' the flow of steam tothe nozzle 49.

This valve 53 may be similar to the aforemen-i tion'cd valve 4D, andconnected to a foot pedal 3- for control thereby, by mechanism similar to that heretoforedescribed in conjunction with valve 40', and including arock shaft 44a, a crank 45a; mounted thereon, anda" connecting rod 46a extending between and pivotally connected to therespective free ends of the said crank 45a and the valve control lever.

Where it is desired to connect the exhaust port-to a-vacuur'n tank or source of suction other than that shown in Figure 5-, the fitting- 41 may bereplaced by an elbow fitting 41'', such as shown in Figure 5A, which is connected to the source of suction or suction device by a pipe 10. A vertical bore H passes" through the wall of the fittinga'n'd a valve stem 12 is slidably disposed through this bore. A valve member 1-3 carried by. thestem-12- is' disposed-to seat over the upper end of the opening through this fitting, and a rclatlv'elycoaxial valve spring 'M- is associated.

with the valve stem to" normally maintain the valve member 13 in seated position, as shown.

A depending bracket I5 mounted on the fittin 41 has a'lever I6 medially pivotally connected thereto, as at IT, one end of the lever being in contact with the lower end of the valve stem 12 for swinging movement in the axial plane. thereof, and the other end of the lever being pivotally connected to the connectingrod- 46a. aforementioned.

With this arrangement it may be seen that the pedal 3 may be depressed to swing the lever 76 and raise the valve member 13 from its seat. It follows that this will permit the air and/or steam to flow from the interior of the finishing board through the fitting 41' and pipe 10 to a, suction device or vacuum chamber of any con ven'tional type.

In order to facilitate the employment of a steam or steam electric iron in conjunction with the finishing board, there is provided a hollow standard 54, which projects upwardly from the shelf 24 and supports an auxiliary steam chest 55 at its upper end.

This auxiliary steam chest is connected to the steam chest 33 by means of a supply line 56 extending from said chest 33 upwardly through the hollow standard 54, all as generally indicated in Figure 2. A horizontal arm 51 fixed to the steam chest 55 supports the steam supply line 58 for the iron (not shown);

This supply line 58 communicates with the steam chest 55 through the control valve 59 mounted on said chest. This valve 59 is preferably constructed and operates in a manner similar to valves 40 and 53 aforementioned, being normally maintained in closed osition by the spring 60.

In order to permit control of the valve 59 by a foot pedal 4 and associated mechanism similar to that aforementioned in connection with the pedals 2 and 3, the operating lever 6| of the valve is connected by a tension element or chain 62 to a crank arm 63 of a rock shaft 64, which is rotatably mounted on the under sideof the shelf 24; all as shown in Figures 2 and 5. A furthe:- crank arm 55 carried by the shaft 64 (and shown in Figure 9) is'oper'atively connected to the foot pedal 4by a connecting rod 45b and associated mechanism including a crank 45b and rock shaft 44b, all constructed and arranged in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described in conjunction with other foot pedals 2 and 3';

Thus it will be apparent that the foot pedal. 4 may be actuated by downward pressuretoopen the valve 59 and permit passage of steam through the iron supply line 58.

In connection with the foot pedals 2, 3 and 4, it will be noted that said pedals are of identical construction, as are the cranks 45, 45a and 45b while the rock shafts 44, 44a and 441) are all formed of standard stock, differing only as to their length.

Such standardizationof parts is made possible by virtue of the factthat the several shafts. extend parallel to each other-and diagonally tothe longitudinal axis of the base I, so that the pedals may be attached tocorresponding ends thereof at pointsin relative alignment with thelongitudinal axis of the base 1, despite the uniformlengths of the crank arm embodiedin the pedal castings.

Additional attachments ,for. facilitating the use of the invention may comprise a conventional '75 rest or support R rorzthe iron; Sacha-rest m y consist of a rectangular piece of asbestos or other insulating material.

Also it is desirable to provide a support S for a usual pleat setter, whereby same may be positioned conveniently adjacent to the finishing board. Such a support S is illustrated in detail in Figures and 11 and comprises a supporting .bracket 80, fixed to the shelf 24. A rod 8| car- :ried by the bracket 80 extends substantially parallel to the finishing board and to one side thereof, and the stand S is supported on this rod with one edge parallel to and closely adjacent the finishing board.

In the operation of the finishing board, which is believed to be apparent from the foregoing, the garment or fabric to be treated is placed on the surface of the board 6.

Where it is desired to steam said garment or fabric, the pedal 2 may be depressed to cause a flow of steam through the nozzle 25 and beneath the perforated plate [2, thence upwardly through the perforations 13 in said plate and the layers of porous material [4 and I5 to the garment or fabric.

Where it is desired to reverse this process and dry the garment by drawing air downwardly into the board through same, this may be effected by foot pressure on the pedal 3, with consequent actuation of the vacuum or suction means shown in Figures 5 and 5A.

Depression of the remaining pedal 4 opens the valve 59 to permit the passage of steam to the supply line 58 for the iron.

During the operation of the board, the surface thereof will remain heated at all times by the action of the heating tubes I8, and the constant flow of steam through.

We claim:

1. A steam finishing board comprising an elongated metal bod formed with a basin in its upper surface, said basin comprising a relatively deep central trough and a relatively shallow marginal depression surrounding said trough, said body being formed with a fluid passage in longitudinal alignment and communicating with one end of said trough, the bottom of said trough sloping downward to said passage, a plurality of relatively spaced bosses integral with the bottom of said marginal depression, a perforated plate supported on said bosses and covering said basin, and heating tubes in the lower surface of said body beneath said marginal depression to supply heat to said perforated plate by conduction through said body and said bosses, said body being formed with recesses in its lower face for receiving said respective tubes, and metal inserts in said recesses around said tubes to provide an eflicient heat conducting path between said tubes and said casting, in combination with a junction member disposed across said passage beneath said body, said member comprising a medial bridge :portion disposed beneath said passage, a steam injection nozzle carried by said bridge portion in communication with said passage, and being formed with compartments on opposite sides of -said passage respectively communicating with the ,opposite ends of said tubes, steam supply and ex- ;haust lines respectively communicating with said ,compartments to circulate steam through said gtubes, a steam supply means communicating with said nozzle, a control valve for said supply means, a suction fitting communicating with said passage. and pedal controllable means for exertin suction therein.

2. A steam finishing board comprising a metal body formed with a basin in its upper surface, said basin comprising a relatively deep central trough and a relatively shallow marginal depression adjoining said trough, said trough gradually increasing in depthtowards one end thereof, in combination with means for injecting steam into said trough, and suction means communicating with said trough at said end whereby drainage of condensate from said basin through said suction means will be facilitated, said suction means comprising a hollow fitting having one end in communication with said trough, a Venturi tube coupled to the other end of said fitting, and a steam injection nozzle mounted in said fitting in operative relation to said Venturi tube to cause suction in said trough responsive to the passage of steam through said nozzle.

3. A steam finishing board comprising an elongated metal body having a series of substantially parallel U-shaped grooves in its bottom face, a similar series of U-shaped steam pipes disposed in said respective grooves, conductive metal in said grooves around said pipes to secure the latter in intimate heat conductive relation with said board, the top surface of said board being formed with a trough therein midway between the legs of said respective U-pipes and projecting beyond the relatively spaced opposite ends thereof, a manifold on the bottom of said board extending across said trough and having separate intake and exhaust compartments on opposite sides of said trough communicating with the respective opposite ends of said pipes, a steam injection nozzle carried by said manifold between said compartments and projecting into said trough. steam intake and exhaust lines respectively communicating with said intake and exhaust compartments to circulate steam through said pipes, and a steam supply line communicating with said nozzle.

4. A steam finishing board comprising an elongated metal body, a series of U-shaped steam pipes disposed beneath and in heat conductive relation with the bottom of said board, the top surface of said board being formed with a trough therein midway between the legs of said U-shaped pipes and projecting beyond the relatively spaced opposite ends thereof, a, manifold on the bottom of said board extending across said trough and having separate intake and exhaust compartments on opposite sides of said trough receiving and communicating with the opposite ends of said pipes, and a steam injection nozzle carried by said manifold between said compartments and projecting into said trough.

5. A steam finishing board comprising an elongated metal board member, a series of U-shaped steam pipes disposed beneath and in heat conductive relation with said member, the top surface of said member being formed with a trough therein midway between the legs of said U-shaped pipes and projecting beyond the relatively spaced opposite ends thereof, a manifold having separate closed compartments secured to and respectively communicating with the opposite ends of said U-shaped pipes, and steam injection means carried by said manifold in communication with said trough.

6. A steam finishing board comprising an elongated metal body having a series of substantially parallel U-shaped grooves in its bottom face, a similar series of U-shaped steam pipes disposed in said respective grooves, metal arranged in said grooves around said pipes to secure the latter in place and provide heat conductive paths between said pipes and said body, the top surface of said board being formed with a trough therein midway between the legs of said respective U- shaped pipes, a manifold member having separate closed compartments secured to and respectively communicating with the corresponding opposite ends of said pipes, and steam injection means carried by said manifold member in communication with said trough.

FRANK H. RICH'I'ERKESSING.

WILLIAM M. CISSELL.

Name Date Furber June 11. 1912 Number Number Number Name Date Brayley July 29, 1919 Ross Sept.\9, 1924 Steenstrup July 28, 1925 Platten Sept. 8, 1925 Betke Dec. 17, 1929 Cox June 17, 1930 Beede Sept. 8, 1931 Clark et a1 Dec. 1, 1936 Rushfeldt May 13, 1941 Miller Feb. 16, 1943 Cissell Oct. 17, 1944 Glover Dec. 7, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain "1-.. Nov, 10, 1927 

